Liquid crystal panel and method of manufacturing thereof

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal panel includes: a first substrate including multiple pixel electrodes; a liquid crystal layer; and a second substrate. The domains in the display unit region located in an nth row are arranged in an order of a first domain, a second domain, a third domain, and a fourth domain. Each of the pixel electrodes is provided with multiple fine slits parallel to the alignment vectors of the respective domains. Each of the pixel electrodes includes a region where the fine slits do not exist, at both ends of the pixel electrode parallel to the row direction and at one or both of ends of the pixel electrode parallel to the column direction. A portion having a largest width of the region where the fine slits do not exist is included in one or both of the ends of the pixel electrode parallel to the row direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/366,911, filed on Mar. 27, 2019, whichdesignated the U.S. and claims priority to Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2018-062303 filed in Japan on Mar. 28, 2018. The entire disclosureof such parent application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal panel and a method ofmanufacturing thereof. More particularly, the present invention relatesto a liquid crystal panel having a configuration in which one pixel isdivided into multiple alignment regions (domains) and a method suitablefor manufacturing of the liquid crystal panel.

Description of Related Art

A liquid crystal display device is a display device in which a liquidcrystal composition is used to perform display. In a typical displaysystem for the liquid crystal display device, the liquid crystalcomposition enclosed between a pair of substrates is irradiated withlight from a backlight, and voltage is applied to the liquid crystalcomposition to change alignment of liquid crystal molecules, therebycontrolling an amount of light transmitted through the liquid crystalpanel. Because the liquid crystal display device has the features suchas a low profile, light weight, and low power consumption, the liquidcrystal display device is used in electronic products such as asmartphone, a tablet PC, and an automotive navigation system.

Conventionally, an alignment division technique has been studied. In thealignment division technique, one pixel is divided into multiplealignment regions (domains), and the liquid crystal molecules arealigned at different azimuths in different alignment regions, therebyimproving a viewing angle characteristic. JP 2015-31961 A can be citedas an example of a citation list disclosing the alignment divisiontechnique.

A liquid crystal display device disclosed in JP 2015-31961 A includes: adisplay substrate that includes multiple pixel regions and has a curvedshape bent according to a first direction; a counter substrate that isopposed and coupled to the display substrate and has a curved shapetogether with the display substrate; and a liquid crystal layer disposedbetween the display substrate and the counter substrate. In the liquidcrystal display device, multiple domains are defined in each of thepixel regions, at least two of the domains are different from each otherin a direction in which liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystallayer are aligned, and the domains are arrayed in a second directioncrossing the first direction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Sometimes display unevenness having a viewing angle characteristic isgenerated in the liquid crystal panel in which the alignment divisiontechnique is used. Because the display unevenness has the viewing anglecharacteristic, the display unevenness can hardly be suppressed by apublicly known conventional unevenness correction technique. For thisreason, there is a demand for a method of suppressing the displayunevenness having the viewing angle characteristic.

The present invention has been made in view of such a current state ofthe art and aims to provide a liquid crystal panel in which the displayunevenness having viewing angle dependency is suppressed and a methodsuitable for manufacturing of the liquid crystal panel.

As a result of extensive studies on the cause of occurrence of displayunevenness having viewing angle dependency, the inventors have foundthat in the case that a fine slit is provided in a pixel electrode, anelectric field from the gate line below the pixel electrode influencesthe liquid crystal Layer to change luminance of the liquid crystalpanel. In the liquid crystal panel in which one pixel is divided intoalignment regions (domains), the inventors have also found that displayunevenness having viewing angle dependency is generated because a degreeof influence of the electric field from the gate line varies between thedomains. Thereby, the inventors have arrived at the solution to theabove problem when a distance from to an end of a fine slit to an end ofthe pixel electrode is lengthened in the domain close to the gate line,completing the present invention.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided aliquid crystal panel including: a first substrate including multiplepixel electrodes arranged into a matrix form, multiple gate lines, and afirst alignment film; a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystalmolecules; and a second substrate including a common electrode and asecond alignment film, wherein an alignment vector is defined as beingfrom a first substrate side long-axis end of each of the liquid crystalmolecules, a start point, to a second substrate side long-axis end ofthe liquid crystal molecule, an end point, and the first alignment filmand the second alignment film having been subjected to an alignmenttreatment each include multiple domains with different alignment vectorsin a column direction in each display unit region superimposed on one ofthe pixel electrodes, in at least 30 pixels consecutive in a rowdirection, arrays of the domains are identical, the gate lines extendthrough a region between rows of the display unit regions, the domainsin the display unit region located in an nth row, where n is any integerof 1 or more, are arranged in an order of a first domain in which adirection of the alignment vector is a first direction, a second domainin which a direction of the alignment vector is a second direction, athird domain in which a direction of the alignment vector is a thirddirection, and a fourth domain in which a direction of the alignmentvector is a fourth direction, each of the pixel electrodes is provided,in the first domain, the second domain, the third domain, and the fourthdomain, with multiple fine slits parallel to the alignment vectors ofthe respective domains, each of the pixel electrodes includes a regionwhere the fine slits do not exist, at both ends of the pixel electrodeparallel to the row direction and at one or both of ends of the pixelelectrode parallel to the column direction, and a portion having alargest width of the region where the fine slits do not exist isincluded in one or both of the ends of the pixel electrode parallel tothe row direction.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of manufacturing the liquid crystal panel, the method includingforming the fine slits by photolithography, the photolithographyincluding irradiating a photosensitive resin formed on a conductive filmwith light through a mask in which a pattern corresponding to the fineslits is formed and multiple lenses.

The present invention can provide the liquid crystal panel in which thedisplay unevenness having the viewing angle dependency is suppressed andthe method suitable for manufacturing of the liquid crystal panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an exampleof a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view illustrating an arrangement relation ofan oblique azimuth of liquid crystal molecules in a liquid crystal layerof the embodiment and a color filter of a second substrate;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a relationship between the oblique azimuthof the liquid crystal molecules and an alignment vector;

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view illustrating the oblique azimuth of theliquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer of the embodimentwhile the oblique azimuth is superposed on an electrode and linestructure of a first substrate;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are views in which all domains included in pixels if annth row and pixels of an (n+1)th row are organized based on an adjacentrelationship with respect to a gate line G, FIG. 5A illustrates a domaingroup that is not adjacent to the gate line G, and FIG. 5B illustrates adomain group adjacent to the gate line G;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a modification of a pixel electrode inFIG. 5B;

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view illustrating an arrangement relation ofthe oblique azimuth of liquid crystal molecules in a liquid crystallayer and the color filter of the second substrate of the modification;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating photolithography using a multi-lens;

FIG. 9A is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an arrangementrelation of the lenses in the multi-lens, and FIG. 9B is a conceptualview illustrating a pattern of luminance unevenness generated byscanning exposure in which the multi-lens in FIG. 9A is used when thepixel electrode including fine slits and the gate line are formed;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a photoalignment treatment device;

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an example of a photo alignment treatmentstep using the photo alignment treatment device;

FIG. 12A is a view illustrating the photo alignment treatment performedon a TFT substrate (first substrate), FIG. 12B is a view illustratingthe photo alignment treatment performed on a CF substrate (secondsubstrate), and FIG. 12C is a view illustrating a state after bonding ofthe TFT substrate and the CF substrate that are subject to the photoalignment treatment;

FIG. 13 is a waveform chart schematically illustrating an example of awaveform of voltage applied to a general liquid crystal panel;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are views each illustrating the case that the liquidcrystal panel of the embodiment is bent, FIG. 14A illustrates the statein which the liquid crystal panel is not bent, and FIG. 14B illustratesthe state in which the liquid crystal panel is bent;

FIGS. 15A and 15B are views each illustrating the state of a dark linein a portion in which misalignment is not generated in the liquidcrystal panel of the embodiment, FIG. 15A is a plan view of the pixel,and FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′;

FIGS. 16A and 16B are views each illustrating the state of the dark linein a portion in which the misalignment of a first form is generated inthe liquid crystal panel of the embodiment, FIG. 16A is a plan view ofthe pixel, and FIG. 16B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′;

FIGS. 17A and 17B are views each illustrating the state of the dark linein a portion in which the misalignment of a second form is generated inthe liquid crystal panel of the embodiment, FIG. 17A is a plan view ofthe pixel, and FIG. 17B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′;

FIGS. 15A and 18B are views each illustrating the case that a firstconventional liquid crystal panel is bent, FIG. 18A illustrates thestate in which the first conventional liquid crystal panel is not bent,and FIG. 18B illustrates the state in which the first conventionalliquid crystal panel is bent;

FIGS. 19A and 19B are views each illustrating the state of the dark linein a portion in which the misalignment is not generated in the firstconventional liquid crystal panel, FIG. 19A is a plan view of the pixel,and FIG. 19B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′;

FIGS. 20A and 20B are views each illustrating the state of the dark linein a portion in which the misalignment of the first form is generated inthe first conventional liquid crystal panel, FIG. 20A is a plan view ofthe pixel, and FIG. 20B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′;

FIGS. 21A and 21B are views each illustrating the state of the dark linein a portion in which the misalignment of the second form is generatedin the first conventional liquid crystal panel, FIG. 21A is a plan viewof the pixel, and FIG. 21B is a cross-sectional view taken along lineA-A′;

FIGS. 22A and 22B are views each illustrating the case that a secondconventional liquid crystal panel is bent, FIG. 22A illustrates thestate in which the second conventional liquid crystal panel is not bent,and FIG. 22B illustrates the state in which the second conventionalliquid crystal panel is bent;

FIGS. 23A and 23B are views each illustrating the state of the dark linein a portion in which the misalignment is not generated in the secondconventional liquid crystal panel, FIG. 23A is a plan view of the pixel,and FIG. 23B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′;

FIGS. 24A and 24B are views each illustrating the state of the dark linein a portion in which the misalignment of the first form is generated inthe second conventional liquid crystal panel, FIG. 24A is a plan view ofthe pixel, and FIG. 24B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′;

FIGS. 25A and 25B are views each illustrating the state of the dark linein a portion in which the misalignment of the second form is generatedin the second conventional liquid crystal panel, FIG. 25A is a plan viewof the pixel, and FIG. 25B is a cross-sectional view taken along lineA-A′;

FIGS. 26A and 26B are views each illustrating the case that a thirdconventional liquid crystal panel is bent, FIG. 26A illustrates thestate in which the third conventional liquid crystal panel is not bent,and FIG. 26B illustrates the state in which the third conventionalliquid crystal panel is bent;

FIGS. 27A and 27B are views each illustrating the state of the dark linein a portion in which the misalignment is not generated in the thirdconventional liquid crystal panel, FIG. 27A is a plan view of the pixel,and FIG. 27B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′;

FIGS. 28A and 28B are views each illustrating the state of the dark linein a portion in which the misalignment of the first form is generated inthe third conventional liquid crystal panel, FIG. 28A is a plan view ofthe pixel, and FIG. 28B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′;and

FIGS. 29A and 29B are views each illustrating the state of the dark linein a portion in which the misalignment of the second form is generatedin the third conventional liquid crystal panel, FIG. 29A is a plan viewof the pixel, and FIG. 29B is a cross-sectional view taken along lineA-A′.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.However, the following embodiment is not intended to limit the scope ofthe present invention, and appropriate modifications can be made withinthe spirit of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an exampleof a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display device of theembodiment includes a liquid crystal panel 100 and a backlight 110disposed on a back side of the liquid crystal panel 100. The liquidcrystal panel 100 includes a back-side polarizing plate 20, a firstsubstrate 30 including multiple pixel electrodes 35 and a firstalignment film 71, a liquid crystal layer 40 containing liquid crystalmolecules 41, a second substrate 50 including a second alignment film 72and a counter electrode (common electrode) 51, and adisplay-surface-side polarizing plate 60 in this order. The liquidcrystal panel 100 includes a sealing material 80 around the liquidcrystal layer 40.

A method of displaying the liquid crystal display device of theembodiment will be described. In the liquid crystal display device ofthe embodiment, light is incident on the liquid crystal panel 100 fromthe backlight 110, and an amount of light transmitted through the liquidcrystal panel 100 is controlled by switching the alignment of the liquidcrystal molecules 41 in the liquid crystal layer 40. The alignment ofthe liquid crystal molecules 41 is switched by applying voltage to theliquid crystal layer 40 using the multiple pixel electrodes 35 and thecounter electrode 51. When the voltage applied to the liquid crystallayer 40 is less than a threshold (at time of applying no voltage), theinitial alignment of the liquid crystal molecules 41 is controlled bythe first alignment film 71 and the second alignment film 72.

At the time of applying no voltage, the liquid crystal molecules 41 arealigned substantially vertically to the first substrate 30 and thesecond substrate 50. As used herein, the term “substantially vertically”means that the liquid crystal molecules 41 are aligned slightly obliqueto the first substrate 30 and the second substrate 50 by the alignmenttreatment performed on the first alignment film 71 and the secondalignment film 72. A pre-tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules 41with respect to the first substrate 30 and the second substrate 50 atthe time of applying no voltage is preferably greater than or equal to85° and less than 90°. When the voltage is applied between the pixelelectrode 35 and the counter electrode 51, a vertical electric field isgenerated in the liquid crystal layer 40, and the liquid crystalmolecules 41 are further obliquely aligned while an oblique azimuth ismaintained from the time of applying no voltage.

The oblique azimuth of the liquid crystal molecules 41 will be describedas appropriate using an alignment vector in which in a plan view of theliquid crystal panel 100, a first substrate 30 side long-axis end ofeach liquid crystal molecule 41 is defined as a start point(hereinafter, also referred to as “a tail of a liquid crystal director”)41S while the second substrate 50 side long-axis end of the liquidcrystal molecule 41 is defined as an end point (hereinafter alsoreferred to as “a head of the liquid crystal director”) 41T. Thealignment vector is in the same direction as the oblique azimuth of theliquid crystal molecules 41 with respect to the first alignment film 71on the side of the first substrate 30 and is in an opposite direction tothe oblique azimuth of the liquid crystal molecules 41 with respect tothe second alignment film 72 on the side of the second substrate 50. Asused herein, the term “azimuth” means a direction in a view projectedonto a substrate surface without consideration of an inclination angle(a polar angle, the pre-tilt angle) from a normal direction of thesubstrate surface. The liquid crystal molecules 41 are alignedsubstantially vertically (aligned slightly obliquely) at the time ofapplying no voltage, and are largely obliquely aligned at the time ofapplying the voltage while the oblique azimuth at the time of applyingno voltage is maintained, so that the start point 41S and the end point41T of the alignment vector may be checked while the voltage is appliedto the liquid crystal layer 40.

Preferably the first alignment film 71 and the second alignment film 72are each a photo alignment film in which a photo alignment film materialis deposited to exert a function of aligning the liquid crystalmolecules 41 in a specific direction by performing a photo alignmenttreatment. The photo alignment film material means a general materialthat generates a structural change when irradiated with light(electromagnetic wave) such as ultraviolet light and visible light,thereby exerting an ability of controlling the alignment of the nearbyliquid crystal molecules 41 (alignment controlling force) or changingthe alignment controlling force level and/or direction. For example, thephoto alignment film material includes a photoreactive site in which areaction such as dimerization (dimer formation), isomerization, photoFries rearrangement, and decomposition is generated by lightirradiation. Examples of the photoreactive sites (functional groups)that dimerize and isomerize by the light irradiation include cinnamate,cinnamoyl, 4-chalcone, coumarin, and stilbene. Azobenzene can be citedas an example of the photoreactive site (functional group) thatisomerizes by the light irradiation. A phenol ester structure can becited as an example of the photoreactive site that undergoes the photoFries rearrangement by the light irradiation. Dianhydride containing acyclobutane ring such as 1,2,3,4-cyclobutanetetracarboxylic acid-1, 2:3,4-dianhydride (CBDA) can be cited as an example of the photoreactivesite that is decomposed by the light irradiation. Preferably the photoalignment film material exhibits a vertical alignability that can beused in a vertical alignment mode. Examples of the photo alignment filmmaterials include polyamide (polyamic acid), polyimide, polysiloxanederivative, methyl methacrylate, and polyvinyl alcohol that contain thephotoreactive site.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view illustrating an arrangement relation ofthe oblique azimuth of the liquid crystal molecules 41 in the liquidcrystal layer 40 of the embodiment and a color filter of the secondsubstrate 50. As illustrated in FIG. 2, in the liquid crystal panel 100of the embodiment, multiple pixels 10 are arranged into a matrix form ofN rows and M columns (N and N are integers of 1 or more). As usedherein, the pixel 10 means a display unit region superimposed on asingle pixel electrode 35, and an R pixel superimposed on a color filterof R (red), a G pixel superimposed on a color filter of G (green), and aB pixel superimposed on the color filter of B (blue) are provided in thepixel 10. In FIG. 2, a portion surrounded by a one dot chain line is onepixel. Stripe-shaped color filters extending in the column direction arearranged on the second substrate 50 in order of R, G, B in the rowdirection. That is, the arrangement order of the pixels 10 in the rowdirection is repetition of the R pixel, the G pixel, and the B pixel,and the pixels 10 having the identical color are consecutively arrangedin the column direction.

Four domains having different alignment vectors are provided in eachpixel 10. These domains can be formed by varying the alignment treatmentperformed on the first alignment film 71 and the second alignment film72. When the voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 40, theliquid crystal molecules 41 are obliquely aligned so as to be matchedwith the alignment vector of each domain.

In FIG. 2, in order to easily understand the oblique azimuth of theliquid crystal molecules 41, the liquid crystal molecules 41 arerepresented by pins (cones), the bottom surface of the cone representsthe side of the second substrate 50 (observer side), and a vertex of thecone represents the side of the first substrate 30. FIG. 3 is a viewillustrating a relationship between the oblique azimuth of the liquidcrystal molecules 41 and the alignment vector.

The domains in the pixel located in the nth row (n is any integergreater than or equal to 1) are arranged in the order of a first domain10 a in which the direction of the alignment vector is a firstdirection, a second domain 10 b in which the direction of the alignmentvector is a second direction, a third domain 10 c in which the directionof the alignment vector is a third direction, and a fourth domain 10 din which the direction of the alignment vector is a fourth direction.The group of identical-color pixels consecutive in the column directionmay include the pixels 10 in which the arrangement order of the fourdomains varies. Specifically, the domains in the pixel (the (n+1)th rowpixel) located in the (n+1)th row adjacent to the nth row preferablysatisfy the relationship in which the first domain 10 a and the fourthdomain 10 d are located between the second domain 10 b and the thirddomain 10 c. As illustrated in FIG. 2, more preferably the domains inthe (n+1)th row pixel are arranged in the order of the third domain 10c, the fourth domain 10 d, the first domain 10 a, and the second domain10 b. Two kinds of pixels having different arrangement order of the fourdomains may be alternately and repeatedly arranged in the group ofidentical-color pixels consecutive in the column direction. In otherwords, pixels having different domain arrangement order may be arrangedin two row periods. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the domainsin the pixel located in the (n+2)th row are arranged in the order of thefirst domain 10 a, the second domain 10 b, the third domain 10 c, andthe fourth domain 10 d. At least one gate line G extends between the nthrow pixel and the (n+1)th row pixel.

From the viewpoint of obtaining a good viewing angle characteristic, thealignment vectors of the first domain 10 a, the second domain 10 b, thethird domain 10 c, and the fourth domain 10 d are a combination of fouralignment vectors that face in directions different from one another by90°. The alignment vector of each domain can be decided by the directionof the liquid crystal molecules 41 located in the center of the domainin a plan view and located in the center of the liquid crystal layer ina cross-sectional view.

From the viewpoint of suppressing a dark line generated between thedomains, in a plan view of the nth row pixel, the alignment vectors ofthe first domain 10 a, the second domain 10 b, the third domain 10 c,and the fourth domain 10 d preferably have the following relationships(1) to (3).

(1) The alignment vectors of the first domain 10 a and the second domain10 b have a relationship, in which the end points are opposed to eachother and the alignment vectors are orthogonal to each other (forming anangle of about 90°) (hereinafter referred to as “a domain boundarycondition A”).

(2) The alignment vectors of the second domain 10 b and the third domain10 c have a relationship, in which the start points are opposed to eachother and the alignment vectors are parallel to each other (forming anangle of about 180°) (hereinafter referred to as “a domain boundarycondition B”).

(3) The alignment vectors of the third domain 10 c and the fourth domain10 d have the relationship (domain boundary condition A), in which theend points are opposed to each other and the alignment vectors areorthogonal to each other (forming the angle of about 90°).

As used herein, in the term “orthogonal (forming the angle of about90°)”, the alignment vectors may be substantially orthogonal to eachother within a range where the effect of the present invention isobtained, specifically the term “orthogonal” means that the alignmentvectors form an angle of 75° to 105°, preferably an angle of 80° to100°, more preferably an angle of 85° to 95°. In the term “parallel(forming an angle of about 180°)”, the alignment vectors may besubstantially parallel to each other within the range where the effectof the present invention is obtained, specifically the term “parallel”means that the alignment vectors form an angle of −15° to +15° ,preferably an angle of −10° to +10°, more preferably an angle of −5° to+5°.

The dark line is formed due to discontinuity of the alignment of theliquid crystal molecules 41 at a boundary between the domains havingdifferent alignment azimuths of the liquid crystal molecules 41. In theregion where the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules 41 isdiscontinuous, because the liquid crystal molecules 41 cannot be alignedin an intended direction, the light can insufficiently be transmittedduring display, and the region is recognized as a dark portion. The darkportion formed in a linear shape is called the dark line. When the darkline is generated, transmittance (contrast ratio) of the pixel 10decreases, so that light use efficiency of the liquid crystal panel 100is degraded. In recent years, high definition of the pixel 10 hasadvanced and an area per pixel is reduced, but an area of the dark linedoes not change even if the pixel 10 is reduced, so that an area ratiooccupied by the dark line in the pixel 10 increases, and thereforeprevention of the degradation of the light use efficiency becomes moreimportant. When the dark line is generated at a different position ineach pixel 10, uniformity of the display is also degraded. On the otherhand, the inventors have studied that a generation situation of the darkline changes according to the arrangement of the domains, and have foundthat the arrangement of the domain boundary conditions A-B-A satisfyingall of the relationships (1) to (3) effectively suppresses the darkline.

In the first domain 10 a, the second domain 10 b, the third domain 10 c,and the fourth domain 10 d, an inter-substrate twist angle of the liquidcrystal molecules 41 is preferably less than or equal to 45°, morepreferably about 0°. That is, in the first domain 10 a, the seconddomain 10 b, the third domain 10 c, and the fourth domain 10 d, an angleformed between the oblique azimuth of the liquid crystal molecules 41with respect to the first alignment film 71 on the side of the firstsubstrate 30 and the oblique azimuth of the liquid crystal molecules 41with respect to the second alignment film 72 on the side of the secondsubstrate 50 is preferably less than or equal to 45°, more preferablyabout 0°.

The planar shapes of the first domain 10 a, the second domain 10 b, thethird domain 10 c, and the fourth domain 10 d are not particularlylimited. For example, the first domain 10 a, the second domain 10 b, thethird domain 10 c, and the fourth domain 10 d are formed into asubstantially rectangular shape. The rectangular shape may be either asquare or an oblong.

In the liquid crystal panel 100 of the embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 2, the arrangement order (domain array) of the first domain 10 a,the second domain 10 b, the third domain 10 c, and the fourth domain 10d is identical in at least 30 pixels consecutive in the row direction.The identical-domain-array pixels arranged consecutively in the rowdirection preferably have at least a ratio of one half to the totalnumber of pixels in the row direction of the display region, morepreferably at least a ratio of 90% to the total number of pixels in therow direction of the display region. Further preferably the pixelsarranged in the row direction in the entire display region have the samedomain array. The pixels arranged in the row direction can have the samedomain array by performing the alignment treatment on the firstalignment film 71 and the second alignment film 72 using scanningexposure. For example, the scanning exposure may be performed using aphoto alignment treatment device in FIG. 10.

The domain arrays of pixels arranged consecutively in the row directionare made identical, which allows the suppression of the generation ofdefects due to misalignment in a lateral direction (row direction) ofthe liquid crystal panel 100. Specifically, the generation of a displaydefect such as display unevenness due to bending of the liquid crystalpanel 100 can be suppressed, and the effect that suppresses thegeneration of the display defect appears notably in ahigher-added-value, large-sized, and high-definition liquid crystalpanel. Consequently, the liquid crystal panel 100 of the embodiment cansuitably be used for a higher-added-value, large-sized, andhigh-definition liquid crystal display in which excellent displayquality is required. The liquid crystal panel 100 of the embodiment canalso be used for a high-designability, large-sized, high-definitioncurved (non-planar) display. A method of thickening a light shieldingbody is adopted as another method of improving the display unevenness,but the transmittance decreases in this method. In particular, becausethe high-definition liquid crystal panel has the low transmittance, thefurther decrease in transmittance causes a serious problem such as aloss of marketability.

The liquid crystal panel 100 tends to become larger, lighter (thinningof the glass substrate), and higher definition. The liquid crystal panel100 that becomes larger and lighter is easily bent, and particularlyeasily bent in a long-side direction (row direction). When the liquidcrystal panel 100 is bent, the fitting between the first substrate 30and the second substrate 50 is partially and irregularly misaligned. Fora conventional liquid crystal panel having a multi-domain structure,when the misalignment is generated, a width and a shape of the dark lineat the domain boundary change, and the transmittance changes, so thatthe display unevenness is generated. The display unevenness is abelt-shaped unevenness extending from an upper end to a lower end of theliquid crystal panel, and is sometimes generated at an irregularposition, which sometimes significantly degrades the display quality ofthe entire liquid crystal panel. The display unevenness tends to beeasily generated in a relatively-expensive, large-sized, andhigh-definition liquid crystal panel. On the other hand, the liquidcrystal panel 100 of the embodiment has the multi-domain structure, butdoes not generate the changes of the width and shape of the dark linedue to the misalignment in the lateral direction (row direction).Because the liquid crystal panel 100 of the embodiment has the identicaldomain array in the lateral direction (row direction) so that the domainboundary and the dark line do not exist in the lateral direction, thisleads to an essential measure against the display unevenness in theliquid crystal panel 100 of the embodiment.

The generation situation of the display unevenness in the case that theliquid crystal panel 100 is bent will be described with reference to thedrawings.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are views each illustrating the case that the liquidcrystal panel 100 of the embodiment is bent, FIG. 14A illustrates thestate in which the liquid crystal panel 100 is not bent, and FIG. 14Billustrates the state in which the liquid crystal panel 100 is bent. Asillustrated in FIG. 14B, the display defect is not generated in any oneof a portion in which the misalignment of a first form is generated, aportion in which the misalignment is not generated, and a portion inwhich the misalignment of a second form is generated. FIGS. 15A and 15Bare views each illustrating the state of a dark line in a portion inwhich misalignment is not generated in the liquid crystal panel 100 ofthe embodiment, FIG. 15A is a plan view of the pixel, and FIG. 15B is across-sectional view taken along line A-A′. As illustrated in FIGS. 15Aand 15B, the dark line of a type A generated in a region where thealignment changes continuously due to an influence of the adjacentdomain having different alignment is generated in a domain boundaryregion. FIGS. 16A and 16B are views each illustrating the state of thedark line in a portion in which the misalignment of the first form isgenerated in the liquid crystal panel 100 of the embodiment, FIG. 16A isa plan view of the pixel, and FIG. 16B is a cross-sectional view takenalong line A-A′. As illustrated in FIGS. 16A and 16B, in the state inwhich the liquid crystal panel 100 is bent, for example, the TFTsubstrate is shifted onto the left side and the CF substrate is shiftedonto the right side, and the misalignment is generated. However, themisalignment in the lateral direction does not influence the liquidcrystal alignment, and the dark line of the type A is generated only inthe domain boundary region. FIGS. 17A and 17B are views eachillustrating the state of the dark line in a portion in which themisalignment of the second form is generated in the liquid crystal panel100 of the embodiment, FIG. 17A is a plan view of the pixel, and FIG.17B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′. As illustrated inFIGS. 17A and 17B, the misalignment in the lateral direction does notinfluence the liquid crystal alignment, and the dark line of the type Ais generated only in the domain boundary region.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are views each illustrating the case that a firstconventional liquid crystal panel is bent, FIG. 18A illustrates thestate in which the first conventional liquid crystal panel is not bent,and FIG. 18B illustrates the state in which the first conventionalliquid crystal panel is bent. As illustrated in FIG. 18B, the displaydefect is generated in the portion in which the misalignment of thefirst form is generated and the portion in which the misalignment of thesecond form is generated. FIGS. 19A and 19B are views each illustratingthe state of the dark line in a portion in which the misalignment is notgenerated in the first conventional liquid crystal panel, FIG. 19A is aplan view of the pixel, and FIG. 19B is a cross-sectional view takenalong line A-A′. As illustrated in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the dark line ofthe type A is generated only in the domain boundary region. FIGS. 20Aand 20B are views each illustrating the state of the dark line in aportion in which the misalignment of the first form is generated in thefirst conventional liquid crystal panel, FIG. 20A is a plan view of thepixel, and FIG. 20B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′. Asillustrated in FIGS. 20A and 20B, in a portion, in which the firstconventional liquid crystal panel is bent, and the TFT substrate isshifted onto the left side while the CF substrate is shifted onto theright side, thereby generating the misalignment of the first form, notonly the dark line of the type A is generated in the domain boundaryregion, but also the dark line of a type B generated in the region wherethe liquid crystal alignment becomes abnormal is generated bymismatching of the alignment controlling regions on the TFT substrateside and the CF substrate side due to the misalignment of the upper andlower substrates. As a result, luminance is degraded lower than theportion in which the misalignment is not generated. FIGS. 21A and 21Bare views each illustrating the state of the dark line in a portion inwhich the misalignment of the second form is generated in the firstconventional liquid crystal panel, FIG. 21A is a plan view of the pixel,and FIG. 21B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′. Asillustrated in FIGS. 21A and 21B, in a portion, in which the firstconventional liquid crystal panel is bent, and the TFT substrate isshifted onto the right side while the CF substrate is shifted onto theleft side, thereby generating the misalignment of the second form, notonly the dark line of the type A is generated in the domain boundaryregion, but also the dark line of the type B generated in the regionwhere the liquid crystal alignment becomes abnormal is generated by themismatching of the alignment controlling regions on the TFT substrateside and the CF substrate side due to the misalignment of the upper andlower substrates. As a result, luminance is degraded lower than theportion in which the misalignment is not generated.

FIGS. 22A and 22B are views each illustrating the case that a secondconventional liquid crystal panel is bent, FIG. 22A illustrates thestate in which the second conventional liquid crystal panel is not bent,and FIG. 22B illustrates the state in which the second conventionalliquid crystal panel is bent. As illustrated in FIG. 22B, the displaydefect is generated in the portion in which the misalignment of thefirst form is generated and the portion in which the misalignment of thesecond form is generated. FIGS. 23A and 23B are views each illustratingthe state of the dark line in a portion in which the misalignment is notgenerated in the second conventional liquid crystal panel, FIG. 23A is aplan view of the pixel, and FIG. 23B is a cross-sectional view takenalong line A-A′. As illustrated in FIGS. 23A and 23B, the dark line ofthe type A is generated only in the domain boundary region. FIGS. 24Aand 24B are views each illustrating the state of the dark line in aportion in which the misalignment of the first form is generated in thesecond conventional liquid crystal panel, FIG. 24A is a plan view of thepixel, and FIG. 24B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′. Asillustrated in FIGS. 24A and 24B, in a portion, in which the secondconventional liquid crystal panel is bent, and the TFT substrate isshifted onto the left side while the CF substrate is shifted onto theright side, thereby generating the misalignment of the first form, notonly the dark line of the type A is generated in the domain boundaryregion, but also the dark line of the type B generated in the regionwhere the liquid crystal alignment becomes abnormal is generated by themismatching of the alignment controlling regions on the TFT substrateside and the CF substrate side due to the misalignment of the upper andlower substrates. As a result, the dark line of the type A, which ishidden while overlapping the black matrix (light shielding body) in thestate in which the misalignment is not generated, appears outside thelight shielding body, and the luminance is degraded lower than theportion in which the misalignment is not generated. FIGS. 25A and 25Bare views each illustrating the state of the dark line in a portion inwhich the misalignment of the second form is generated in the secondconventional liquid crystal panel, FIG. 25A is a plan view of the pixel,and FIG. 25B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′. Asillustrated in FIGS. 25A and 25B, in a portion, in which the secondconventional liquid crystal panel is bent, and the TFT substrate isshifted onto the right side while the CF substrate is shifted onto theleft side, thereby generating the misalignment of the second form, notonly the dark line of the type A is generated in the domain boundaryregion, but also the dark line of the type B generated in the regionwhere the liquid crystal alignment becomes abnormal is generated by themismatching of the alignment controlling regions on the TFT substrateside and the CF substrate side due to the misalignment of the upper andlower substrates. As a result, the dark line of the type A, which ishidden while overlapping the black matrix (light shielding body) in thestate in which the misalignment is not generated, appears outside thelight shielding body, and the luminance is degraded lower than theportion in which the misalignment is not generated.

FIGS. 26A and 26B are views each illustrating the case that a thirdconventional liquid crystal panel is bent, FIG. 26A illustrates thestate in which the third conventional liquid crystal panel is not bent,and FIG. 26B illustrates the state in which the third conventionalliquid crystal panel is bent. As illustrated in FIG. 26B, the displaydefect is generated in the portion in which the misalignment of thefirst form is generated and the portion in which the misalignment of thesecond form is generated. FIGS. 27A and 27B are views each illustratingthe state of the dark line in a portion in which the misalignment is notgenerated in the third conventional liquid crystal panel, FIG. 27A is aplan view of the pixel, and FIG. 27B is a cross-sectional view takenalong line A-A′. As illustrated in FIGS. 27A and 27B, the dark line ofthe type A is generated only in the domain boundary region. FIGS. 28Aand 28B are views each illustrating the state of the dark line in aportion in which the misalignment of the first form is generated in thethird conventional liquid crystal panel, FIG. 28A is a plan view of thepixel, and FIG. 28B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′. Asillustrated in FIGS. 28A and 28B, in a portion, in which the thirdconventional liquid crystal panel is bent, and the TFT substrate isshifted onto the left side while the CF substrate is shifted onto theright side, thereby generating the misalignment of the first form, notonly the dark line of the type A is generated in the domain boundaryregion, but also the dark line of the type B generated in the regionwhere the liquid crystal alignment becomes abnormal is generated by themismatching of the alignment controlling regions on the TFT substrateside and the CF substrate side due to the misalignment of the upper andlower substrates. As a result, the dark line of the type A, which ishidden while overlapping the black matrix (light shielding body) in thestate in which the misalignment is not generated, appears outside thelight shielding body. Because the dark line of the type A appears in thepixel having a specific color, a color shift is generated as comparedwith the portion in which the misalignment is not generated. FIGS. 29Aand 29B are views each illustrating the state of the dark line in aportion in which the misalignment of the second form is generated in thethird conventional liquid crystal panel, FIG. 29A is a plan view of thepixel, and FIG. 29B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′. Asillustrated in FIGS. 29A and 29B, in a portion, in which the thirdconventional liquid crystal panel is bent, and the TFT substrate isshifted onto the right side while the CF substrate is shifted onto theleft side, thereby generating the misalignment of the second form, notonly the dark line of the type A is generated in the domain boundaryregion, but also the dark line of the type B generated in the regionwhere the liquid crystal alignment becomes abnormal is generated by themismatching of the alignment controlling regions on the TFT substrateside and the CF substrate side due to the misalignment of the upper andlower substrates. As a result, the dark line of the type A, which ishidden while overlapping the black matrix (light shielding body) in thestate in which the misalignment is not generated, appears outside thelight shielding body. Because the dark line of the type A appears in thepixel having a specific color, a color shift is generated as comparedwith the portion in which the misalignment is not generated.

An outline of the configuration of the liquid crystal display device ofthe embodiment will be described below. The first substrate 30 is anactive matrix substrate (TFT substrate), and the active matrix substratethat is commonly used in the field of the liquid crystal panel can beused as the first substrate 30. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan viewillustrating the oblique azimuth of the liquid crystal molecules 41 inthe liquid crystal layer 40 of the embodiment while the oblique azimuthis superposed on an electrode and line structure of the first substrate30. A configuration in which multiple gate lines G parallel to eachother; multiple source lines S that extend in a direction orthogonal tothe gate line G and are formed in parallel to each other; an activeelement such as a TFT 13 disposed at an intersection of the gate line Gand the source line S; multiple drain lines D disposed in the regionsectioned by the gate line G and the source line S; and the pixelelectrodes 35 are provided on a transparent substrate 31 in a plan viewof the first substrate 30. A capacitance line Cs may be disposed inparallel to the gate line G. In the cross section of the first substrate30, an insulating film 32 such as a gate insulating film and aninterlayer insulating film is provided between the gate line G and thepixel electrode 35.

A TFT in which a channel is formed using an oxide semiconductor issuitably used as the TFT 13. Examples of the oxide semiconductorsinclude a compound (In—Ga—Zn—O) containing indium (In), gallium (Ga),zinc (Zn), and oxygen (O), a compound (In—Sn—Zn—O) containing indium(In), tin (Sn), zinc (Zn), and oxygen (O), and a compound (In—Al—Zn—O)containing indium (In), aluminum (Al), zinc (Zn), and oxygen (O).

The pixel electrode 35 is preferably made of a transparent conductivematerial. Examples of the transparent conductive materials includeindium tin oxide (ITO) and indium zinc oxide (IZO).

Each of the pixel electrodes 35 is superimposed on the first domain 10a, the second domain 10 b, the third domain 10 c, and the fourth domain10 d. Thus, when the voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 40,an electric field having the same magnitude is applied in a thicknessdirection of the liquid crystal layer 40 in the first domain 10 a, thesecond domain 10 b, the third domain 10 c, and the fourth domain 10 d.

Multiple fine slits 36 parallel to the alignment vectors of the first,second, third, and fourth domains 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, 10 d superimposed onthe pixel electrodes 35 are provided in each of the pixel electrodes 35.As used herein, the fine slits mean multiple pairs in each of which theslit portion (opening portion) and electrode that extend in a directionparallel to the desired alignment direction (alignment vector) of theliquid crystal are paired. The fine slits 36 generate electric fielddistortion having a groove-shaped equipotential surface parallel to theextending direction of the slit portion. The electric field formed bythe fine slits 36 has a lateral electric field component that isparallel to the substrate surface and is perpendicular to the extendingdirection of the slit portion. The alignment direction of the liquidcrystal molecules 41 changes due to the lateral electric fieldcomponent, and the liquid crystal molecules 41 are aligned in parallelto the slit.

In the first substrate 30, the pixel electrode 35 is disposed in eachpixel 10, and at least one gate line G extends between the nth row pixeland the (n+1)th row pixel. The domains in the nth row pixel are arrangedin the order of the first domain 10 a, the second domain 10 b, the thirddomain 10 c, and the fourth domain 10 d. Thus, in the nth row pixel, thefirst domain 10 a and the fourth domain 10 d are adjacent to the gateline G. In the nth row pixel, a region where the fine slits 36 do notexist is provided at ends 35E1 and 35E2 parallel to the row direction ofthe pixel electrode 35, and a region where the fine slits 36 do notexist is provided at ends 35E3 and 35E4 parallel to the column directionof the pixel electrode 35. The portion having the largest width of theregion where the fine slits 36 do not exist is included in both the ends35E1 and 35E2 parallel to the row direction of the pixel electrode 35.The term “the width of the region where the fine slits 36 do not exist”corresponds to a distance from an end 365 in a longitudinal direction ofthe fine slit 36 to an outer edge of the pixel electrode 35. The end 365in the longitudinal direction of the fine slit 36 is separated from theends 35E1 and 35E2 on the side adjacent to the gate line G of the pixelelectrode 35, whereby the influence of the voltage (gate voltage) of thegate signal applied to the gate line G on the inside of the liquidcrystal layer 40 through the slit portion of the fine slit 36 can bereduced to suppress the display unevenness. In one of the first domain10 a and the fourth domain 10 d, the effect that the display unevennessis suppressed is obtained when the end 36E in the longitudinal directionof the fine slit 36 is disposed away from the ends 35E1 and 35E2 on theside adjacent to the gate line G of the pixel electrode 35. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, in both the first domain 10 a and the fourthdomain 10 d, it is more effective that the end 36E in the longitudinaldirection of the fine slit 36 is disposed away from the ends 35E1 and35E2 on the side adjacent to the gate line G of the pixel electrode 35.

The distance from the end 36E in the longitudinal direction of the fineslit 36 to the ends 35E1 and 35E2 on the side adjacent to the gate lineG of the pixel electrode 35 in the first domain 10 a and the fourthdomain 10 d ranges preferably from 5 μm to 25 μm inclusive. Theinfluence of the gate voltage on the liquid crystal layer 40 cansufficiently be reduced by setting the distance to 5 μm or more. Adecrease in transmittance can be prevented by setting the distance to 25μm or less.

In a plan view of the first substrate 30, the distance from the end 36Ein the longitudinal direction of the fine slit 36 to the gate line G inthe first domain 10 a and the fourth domain 10 d ranges preferably from5 μm to 25 μm inclusive. The influence of the gate voltage on the liquidcrystal layer 40 can sufficiently be reduced by setting the distance to5 μm or more. A decrease in transmittance can be prevented by settingthe distance to 25 μm or less.

Preferably a width (space) and a pitch (line+space) of the fine slits 36satisfy the following conditions.

-   width (space) of fine slit 36≤5.1 μm-   pitch (line+space) of fine slit 36≤11 μm

More preferably the width (space) and the pitch (line+space) of the fineslits 36 satisfy the following conditions.

-   width (space) of the fine slit 36≤4.3 μm-   pitch (line+space) of fine slit 36≤8.3 μm

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the domains in the (n+1)th row pixel satisfythe relationship in which the first domain 10 a and the fourth domain 10d are located between the second domain 10 b and the third domain 10 c.Thus, in the (n+1)th row pixel, the second domain 10 b and the thirddomain 10 c are adjacent to the gate line G. Even in the (n+1) th rowpixel, the region where the fine slits 36 do not exist is provided atthe ends 35E1 and 35E2 parallel to the row direction of the pixelelectrode 35, and the region where the fine slits 36 do not exist isprovided at the ends 35E3 and 35E4 parallel to the column direction ofthe pixel electrode 35. The portion having the largest width of theregion where the fine slits 36 do not exist is included in both the ends35E1 and 35E2 parallel to the row direction of the pixel electrode 35.In one of the second domain 10 b and the third domain 10 c, the effectthat the display unevenness is suppressed is obtained when the end 36Ein the longitudinal direction of the fine slit 36 is disposed away fromthe ends 35E1 and 35E2 on the side adjacent to the gate line G of thepixel electrode 35. As illustrated in FIG. 4, in both the second domain10 b and the third domain 10 c, it is more effective that the end 36E inthe longitudinal direction of the fine slit 36 is disposed away from theends 35E1 and 35E2 on the side adjacent to the gate line G of the pixelelectrode 35.

In the domain arrangement of FIGS. 2 and 4, in the nth row pixel, thefirst domain 10 a and the fourth domain 10 d are located on the end sideof the pixel, and the second domain 10 b and the third domain 10 c arelocated on the center side of the pixel In the (n+1)th row pixel, thesecond domain 10 b and the third domain 10 c are located on the end sideof the pixel, and the first domain 10 a and the fourth domain 10 d arelocated on the center side of the pixel. FIGS. 5A and 5B are views inwhich all domains included in the nth row pixel and the (n+1)th rowpixel are organized based on an adjacent relationship with respect tothe gate line G, FIG. 5A illustrates a domain group that is not adjacentto the gate line G, and FIG. 5B illustrates a domain group adjacent tothe gate line G; As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, each of the domaingroup that is not adjacent to the gate line G and the domain groupadjacent to the gate line G is constructed with a combination of thefirst domain 10 a, the second domain 10 b, the third domain 10 c, andthe fourth domain 10 d that face in directions different from oneanother by 90°. Consequently, the influence on the liquid crystalvoltage generated in the domains adjacent to the gate line G canuniformly be dispersed in the first domain 10 a, the second domain 10 b,the third domain 10 c, and the fourth domain 10 d to suppress thegeneration of the display unevenness having the viewing angledependency.

The color filter substrate (CF substrate) can be used as the secondsubstrate 50. A configuration in which the black matrix formed into alattice shape and a lattice, namely, the color filter formed inside thepixel 10 are provided on the transparent substrate can be cited as theconfiguration of the color filter substrate. The black matrix may beformed into the lattice shape in each pixel so as to overlap theboundary of the pixel 10, or formed into the lattice shape in each halfpixel so as to cross the center of one pixel along the short-sidedirection. When the black matrix is formed so as to overlap the regionwhere dark line is generated, the dark line is hardly observed, and theinfluence of the dark line on the display can be minimized.

The counter electrode 51 is disposed so as to be opposed to the pixelelectrode 35 with the liquid crystal layer 40 interposed therebetween.The vertical electric field is formed between the counter electrode 51and the pixel electrode 35 and the liquid crystal molecules 41 areinclined, which allows the display to be performed. For example, in eachcolumn, the color filters may be arranged in the order of red (R), green(G), and blue (B), in the order of yellow (Y), red (R), green (G), andblue (B), or in the order of red (R), green (C), blue (B), and green(G).

Preferably the counter electrode 51 is a planar electrode. The counterelectrode 51 may be a transparent electrode. For example, the counterelectrode 51 can be made of a transparent conductive material such asindium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), andtin oxide (SnO) or an alloy thereof.

In the liquid crystal panel 100 of the embodiment, the first substrate30 and the second substrate 50 are bonded together by the sealingmaterial 80 that is provided so as to surround the liquid crystal layer40, and the liquid crystal layer 40 is held in a predetermined region.For example, an epoxy resin containing an inorganic filler or an organicfiller and a hardener can be used as the sealing material 80.

A polymer sustained alignment (PSA) technique may be used in theembodiment. In the PSA technique, a liquid crystal compositioncontaining a photopolymerizable monomer is filled between the firstsubstrate 30 and the second substrate 50, the liquid crystal layer 40 isirradiated with light to polymerize the photopolymerizable monomer, apolymer is formed on the surfaces of the first alignment film 71 and thesecond alignment film 72, and the initial inclination (pre-tilt) of theliquid crystal is fixed by the polymer.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a polarization axis of the back-sidepolarizing plate 20 and a polarization axis of the display-sidepolarizing plate 60 may be orthogonal to each other. The polarizationaxis may be an absorption axis or a transmission axis of the polarizingplate. Typically, the back-side polarizing plate 20 and the display-sidepolarizing plate 60 are those obtained by adsorbing and aligning ananisotropic material such as a dichroic iodine complex onto a polyvinylalcohol (PVA) film. Usually, a protective film such as a triacetylcellulose film is laminated on both sides of the PVA film, and put intopractical use. An optical film such as a retardation film may bedisposed between the back-side polarizing plate 20 and the firstsubstrate 30 and between the display-side polarizing plate 60 and thesecond substrate 50.

Any backlight that emits the light including visible light, anybacklight that emits the light including only the visible light, or anybacklight that emits the light including both the visible light andultraviolet light may be used as the backlight 110. A backlight thatemits white light is suitably used in order to perform color display onthe liquid crystal display device. For example, a light emitting diode(LED) is suitably used as a type of the backlight 110. As used herein,the term “visible light” means light (electromagnetic wave) having awavelength that is greater than or equal to 380 nm and less than 800 nm.

In addition to the liquid crystal panel 100 and the backlight 110, theliquid crystal display device of the embodiment includes an externalcircuit such as a tape-carrier package (TCP) and a printed circuit board(PCB); an optical film such as a viewing angle increasing film and aluminance improving film; and a bezel (frame). Some components may beincorporated into another component. Components other than thosedescribed above are not particularly limited and are not described herebecause such components can be those commonly used in the field ofliquid crystal display devices.

The pixel electrode 35 in FIGS. 4 and 5B is provided with notches atfour corners, but may be formed into a substantially rectangular shape.Consequently, as in the pixel electrode 35A in FIG. 6, the planar shapesof the first domain 10 a and the fourth domain 10 d can be formed intothe same substantially rectangular shape as the planar shapes of thesecond domain 10 b and the third domain 10 c. FIG. 6 is a viewillustrating a modification of the pixel electrode 35 in FIG. 5B.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view illustrating an arrangement relation ofthe oblique azimuth of the liquid crystal molecules 41 in the liquidcrystal layer 40 and the color filter of the second substrate 50 of themodification. In the liquid crystal panel 100 of FIGS. 2 and 4, thedomain array in the nth row pixel and the domain array in the (n+1)throw pixel are made different from each other, and the combination of thefour domains included in the domain group that is not adjacent to thegate line G and the combination of the four domains included in thedomain group adjacent to the gate line G are matched with each other.Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the domains in all the pixels10 may be arranged in the order of the first domain 10 a, the seconddomain 10 b, the third domain 10 c, and the fourth domain 10 d. That is,in all the pixels 10, the first domain 10 a and the fourth domain 10 dmay be adjacent to the gate line G, and the second domain 10 b and thethird domain 10 c may not be adjacent to the gate line G. Even in thiscase, in all the pixels 10, the influence of the gate voltage on theliquid crystal voltage can be suppressed when the end 36E in thelongitudinal direction of the fine slit 36 in the first domain 10 a andthe fourth domain 10 d is disposed away from the ends 35E1 and 35E2 onthe side adjacent to the gate line G of the pixel electrode 35.

In the liquid crystal panel 100 of the embodiment, the generation of thedisplay unevenness having the viewing angle dependency can besuppressed. The reason is as follows.

In the liquid crystal panel 100 during the display, the voltage isapplied to the liquid crystal layer 40 through the pixel electrode 35.In the case that the fine slits 36 are provided in the pixel electrode35, the gate line voltage (gate voltage) applied to the gate line Gthrough the slit portion also influences the inside of the liquidcrystal layer 40. FIG. 13 is a waveform chart schematically illustratingan example of a waveform of the voltage applied to a general liquidcrystal panel. As illustrated in FIG. 13, because usually the value andthe waveform of the gate voltage (−5 V to 25 V) are largely differentfrom the value and the waveform of the voltage (0 V to +15 V) applied tothe liquid crystal layer 40 through the pixel electrode 35, the insideof the liquid crystal layer 40 is influenced through the slit portioneven if the gate line G is separated from the liquid crystal layer 40 bythe insulating film 32 such as the gate insulating film and theinterlayer insulating film. Because a degree of influence by the gatevoltage varies depending on the distance from the gate line G, thedomain that is not adjacent to the gate line G and the domain adjacentto the gate line G are different from each other in the degree ofinfluence by the gate voltage. In a general pixel structure, while thedomain adjacent to the gate line G is influenced by the gate line G, theinfluence of the gate line G on the domain that is not adjacent to thegate line G is negligibly small, namely, substantially zero. In thedomain adjacent to the gate line G, because the degree of influence ofthe gate voltage varies depending on the variation in line width of theslit portion and the variation in width of the gate line, a differencein luminance is generated, and the display unevenness is generated.

For this reason, in the embodiment, in one of the first domain 10 a andthe fourth domain 10 d, the end 36E in the longitudinal direction of thefine slit 36 is disposed away from the ends 35E1 and 35E2 on the sideadjacent to the gate line G of the pixel electrode 35 as illustrated inFIG. 4. Consequently, the influence on the liquid crystal voltagegenerated in the domain adjacent to the gate line G can be reduced tosuppress the generation of the display unevenness having the viewingangle dependency.

A method of manufacturing the liquid crystal panel 100 of the embodimentwill be described below. The method of manufacturing the liquid crystalpanel 100 of the embodiment is not particularly limited, but a methodusually used in the field of the liquid crystal panel can be adopted.The gate line G and the pixel electrode 35 that are provided on thefirst substrate 30 and the color filter provided on the second substrate50 can be formed by photolithography.

From the viewpoints of patterning accuracy and productivity, thephotolithography is suitably used as the method of forming the pixelelectrode 35 having the fine slits 36. In the case that the fine slits36 are formed by the photolithography, a photosensitive resin(photoresist) formed on the conductive film that constitutes a materialof the pixel electrode 35 is irradiated with light through a mask havinga pattern corresponding to the fine slits 36. The photoresist may beirradiated with the light through multiple lenses (multi-lens).

The case that the photoresist is irradiated with the light used for thepatterning of the fine slits 36 through the multi-lens will be describedwith reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a view illustrating thephotolithography using the multi-lens. As illustrated in FIG. 8,exposure is performed on a substrate 170 through a mask 150 including apattern formation region 151 where a light shielding pattern or a lighttransmitting pattern corresponding to the fine slit 36 is formed and amulti-lens 160 including the lenses. A substrate on which a photoresist172 is formed on a conductive film 171 that constitutes the material ofthe pixel electrode 35 is used as the substrate 170. An exposure systemis preferably scanning exposure that is performed while at least one ofan exposure unit including the mask 150 and the multi-lens 160 and thesubstrate 170 is moved. Development of the photoresist 172, etching ofthe conductive film 171, and peeling of the photoresist 172 aresequentially performed after the exposure.

When the exposure is performed using the multi-lens 160, a focal pointor illuminance of each lens may vary. FIG. 9A is a schematiccross-sectional view illustrating an arrangement relation of lenses160A, 160B, 160C, 160D, 160E in the multi-lens 160, and FIG. 9B is aconceptual view illustrating a pattern of the luminance unevennessgenerated when the pixel electrode 35 including fine slits 36 and thegate line G are formed by the scanning exposure in which the multi-lens160 in FIG. 9A is used. In the case that a difference in a focal pointor illuminance exists among the lenses 160A, 160B, 160C, 160D, 160E whenthe scanning exposure is performed with the arrangement of the lenses160A, 160B, 1600, 160D, 160E in FIG. 9A, the line width of the fineslits 36 and the width of the gate line vary in exposure regions 172A,172B, 172C, 172D, 172E corresponding to the lenses 160A, 160B, 160C,160D, 160E as illustrated in FIG. 9k . As a result, the luminance of theliquid crystal panel 100 varies in each of the exposure regions 172A,172B, 172C, 172D, 172E, and is sometimes recognized as the displayunevenness. In particular, because the boundary between the adjacentexposure regions 172A, 172B, 172C, 172D, 172E is a portion in which theline width of the fine slits 36 and the width of the gate line change,the boundary is recognized as seam-shaped display unevenness to degradethe display quality of the liquid crystal panel 100.

On the other hand, in the liquid crystal panel 100 of the embodiment, asdescribed above, the voltage of the gate signal applied to the gate lineG acts in the liquid crystal layer 40 through the slit portion, wherebythe generation of the display unevenness is reduced by adjusting thearrangement of the fine slits 36. Thus, the influence of the variationin line width of the fine slits 36 on the display quality is alsosuppressed. In the case that the domain array in the nth row pixel andthe domain array in the (n+1)th row pixel are different from each other,because a repeating unit of the domain array is not one row (fourdomains) but two rows (eight domains), the boundary between the exposureregions 172A, 172B, 172C, 172D, 172F is hardly recognized as theseam-shaped display unevenness as compared with the case that the domainarrays of each row are equal to each other.

A photo alignment film can also be used for one or both of the firstalignment film 71 and the second alignment film 72. In this case, thealignment treatment performed on the photo alignment film can beperformed by the photo alignment treatment in which the photo alignmentfilm is irradiated with light (electromagnetic wave) such as ultravioletlight and visible light. For example, the photo alignment treatment isperformed using a device, which includes a light source that emits thelight to the first alignment film 71 and the second alignment film 72and has a function of performing continuous scanning exposure over thepixels. Examples of specific modes of the scanning exposure include amode in which a substrate surface is irradiated with the light emittedfrom the light source while the substrate is moved, a mode in which thesubstrate surface is irradiated with the light emitted from the lightsource while the light source is moved, and a mode in which thesubstrate surface is irradiated with the light emitted from the lightsource while the light source and the substrate are moved.

A specific example of the alignment treatment will be described below.FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the photoalignment treatment device. A photo alignment treatment device 200 inFIG. 10 performs the photo alignment treatment on the photo alignmentfilm formed on the liquid crystal panel substrate. Although the firstalignment film 71 formed on the first substrate (liquid crystal panelsubstrate) 30 is illustrated in FIG. 10, the second alignment film 72can also be processed. The photo alignment treatment device 200 includesa light irradiation mechanism 280 and a stage 250 on which the liquidcrystal panel substrate 30 is placed.

The light irradiation mechanism 280 includes a light source 220, apolarizer 230, and a rotation adjustment mechanism 260. The light source220 and the polarizer 230 may be disposed in a lamp box 270. A type ofthe light source 220 is not particularly limited, but a light sourcetypically used in the field of the photo alignment treatment device canbe used. For example, a low-pressure mercury lamp, a deuterium lamp, ametal halide lamp, an argon resonance lamp, and a xenon lamp can beused.

Light 221 emitted from the light source 220 may be light(electromagnetic wave) such as ultraviolet light and visible light, andthe light 221 preferably has a wavelength of 280 nm to 400 nm.

For example, the polarizer 230 extracts linearly polarized light fromthe light emitted from the light source 220 toward the liquid crystalpanel substrate 30. The polarization axis means to transmission axis oran absorption axis of the polarizer. Examples of the polarizer 230include an organic resin polarizer, a wire grid polarizer, and apolarizing beam splitter (PBS).

A polarizer obtained by adsorbing iodine in polyvinyl alcohol andextending polyvinyl alcohol in a sheet shape can be cited as an exampleof the organic resin polarizer.

For example, the wire grid polarizer includes a light transmission basematerial and multiple metal thin wires formed on the light transmissionbase material, and the metal thin wires are disposed in a period shorterthan the wavelength of light incident on the wire grid polarizer. Themetal thin wire is made of a light absorbing metal material such aschromium. When the wire grid polarizer is irradiated with the lightwhile superimposed on the liquid crystal panel substrate 30, the liquidcrystal molecules are aligned at the azimuth orthogonal to an extendingazimuth of the metal thin wire. In the case that the polarizer 230 isthe wire grid polarizer, the polarization axis is the azimuth orthogonalto the extending azimuth of the metal thin wire. Alignment divisiontreatment can efficiently be performed using the wire grid polarizerhaving a different extending azimuth of the metal thin wire.

A cube type polarization beam splitter or a plate type polarization beamsplitter can be cited as an example of the polarization beam splitter. APBS, in which slopes of two prisms are bonded together and an opticalthin film is evaporated on one of the slopes, can be cited as an exampleof the cube type PBS.

The polarizer 230 may be disposed perpendicular to the light irradiationaxis. In the case that the polarizer 230 is not disposed perpendicularlyto the light irradiation axis, sometimes the alignment of the liquidcrystal molecules is influenced by a waveguide effect in the polarizer230. The light irradiation axis is a direction in which the light 221emitted from the light source 220 toward the liquid crystal panelsubstrate 30 propagates linearly. The disposition of the polarizerperpendicular to the light irradiation axis means that the polarizer isdisposed such that the light is emitted from a normal direction of thepolarizer toward the liquid crystal panel substrate, and the term“perpendicular” means a range in which an angle formed between thenormal line of the polarizer and the light irradiation axis is less than0.5°.

A wavelength selection filter 235 may be included between the lightsource 220 and the polarizer 230. A main wavelength of the light emittedthrough the wavelength selection filter 235 may range from 280 nm to 400nm. The selection wavelength of 280 nm to 400 nm can generate astructural chance of a material, which constitutes the first alignmentfilm 71 and exhibits the photo alignment characteristic, and exert thealignment controlling force. Intensity of the light emitted from thelight source may range from 10 mJ/cm² to 100 mJ/cm².

The wavelength selection filter 235 is not particularly limited, and awavelength selection filter typically used in the field of the photoalignment treatment device can be used. A wavelength selection filter inwhich a substance absorbing a wavelength other than the transmissionwavelength is dispersed in the filter or a wavelength selection filterin which a substance reflecting a wavelength other than the transmissionwavelength is coated on the surface of the filter can be cited as anexample of the wavelength selection filter 235.

The light irradiation angle with respect to the liquid crystal panelsubstrate 30 may range from 30° to 60°. The irradiation angle isrepresented by θ1 in FIG. 11, and is an angle formed between a plane ofthe liquid crystal panel substrate 30 and the light irradiation axis inthe case that the surface of the liquid crystal panel substrate 30 isset to 0° and in the case that the normal line of the liquid crystalpanel substrate 30 is set to 90°.

An extinction ratio of the polarizer may range from 50:1 to 500:1. Theextinction ratio is represented by Tmax:Tmin, where Tmax is maximumtransmittance in the case that the polarizer is irradiated with thelight and Tmin is minimum transmittance obtained by rotating thepolarizer by 90°. The light in the desired polarization axis directionis taken out with increasing extinction ratio (a value of Tmax in thecase that Tmin is set to 1), so that a variation in oblique azimuth ofthe liquid crystal molecules can be reduced.

The rotation adjustment mechanism 260 rotates a polarization axis 231 ofthe polarizer 230, and adjusts an exposure direction 253 on the surfaceof the liquid crystal panel substrate 30 so as to substantially become45° with respect to a light irradiation direction 252. By setting theexposure direction 253 to substantially 45° with respect to the lightirradiation direction 252, the photo alignment treatment can beperformed on the liquid crystal panel substrate 30 by scanning exposurehaving excellent productivity while a movement direction 251 of theliquid crystal panel substrate 30 is kept in parallel to the lightirradiation direction 252. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the lightirradiation direction 252 means a light traveling direction in the casethat the light 221 emitted from the light source 220 is projected ontothe surface of the liquid crystal panel substrate 30. The exposuredirection 253 means a vibration direction of polarized light emittedfrom the light source 220 to the surface of the liquid crystal panelsubstrate 30 through the polarizer 230. A pre-tilt azimuth that thealignment film 70 formed on the surface of the liquid crystal panelsubstrate 30 provides to the liquid crystal molecules is fixed by theexposure direction 253.

For example, the polarization axis 231 is adjusted using the rotationadjustment mechanism 260 by the following method. The polarizer 230 isset such that the polarization axis 231 becomes 45° with respect to thelight irradiation direction 252. The azimuth of the polarization axisbefore the polarization axis is adjusted by the rotation adjustmentmechanism is also referred to as “a 45° azimuth”. Subsequently, therotation adjustment mechanism 260 rotates the polarizer 230 from the 45°azimuth to adjust the azimuth of the polarization axis 231 based on datacalculated by geometric computation in consideration of the lightirradiation angle with respect to the liquid crystal panel substrate anda refractive index of the alignment film material. The rotationadjustment mechanism 260 can match the azimuth of the polarization axisof the polarizer with respect to the light irradiation direction withthe exposure direction on the surface of the liquid crystal panelsubstrate to set the oblique azimuth of the liquid crystal molecules inthe liquid crystal panel to a desired angle. When the photo alignmenttreatment is performed with no use of the rotation adjustment mechanism260 while the polarization axis 231 is fixed to the 45° azimuth,sometimes the oblique azimuth of the liquid crystal molecules deviatesby about 10° from about 45°.

The rotation adjustment mechanism 260 may rotate the polarization axisof the polarizer 230 in the range of −15° to +15° from the 45° azimuth.When the rotation adjustment mechanism 260 rotates the polarization axisin the range of −15° to +15°, even if the light irradiation angle ischanged with respect to the liquid crystal panel substrate 30, theexposure direction 253 can be adjusted to set the oblique azimuth of theliquid crystal molecules to the desired angle. For example, thepolarization axis 231 is rotated from the 45° azimuth by +7.55° and setto 52.55° in order to adjust the exposure direction 253 on the surfaceof the liquid crystal panel substrate to substantial 45° with respect tothe light irradiation direction 252.

The photo alignment treatment device 200 may further include a rotationmechanism 264. The rotation mechanism 264 can rotate the polarizationaxis 231 of the polarizer 230 by selecting either substantial 45° orsubstantial 90° from the 45° azimuth. In the case that the azimuth of45° is set to the +45° azimuth clockwise with respect to the lightirradiation direction 252, the rotated polarization axis 231 becomes the−45° azimuth with respect to the light irradiation direction 252 whenthe polarization axis 231 of the polarizer 230 is rotated by 90° fromthe +45° azimuth. The polarization axis 231 is rotated by 90° from the+45° azimuth and adjusted by the rotation adjustment mechanism 260,which allows the light irradiation to be performed while the exposuredirection 253 is set to substantial 45° with respect to the lightirradiation direction 252 before and after the rotation. Consequently,the embodiment is suitable for manufacturing a liquid crystal panelhaving an alignment control mode, in which four alignment regions havingmutually different oblique azimuths of the liquid crystal molecules arearranged along a longitudinal direction of the pixel as illustrated inFIG. 2. The liquid crystal panel having the new alignment control modecan be manufactured by the scanning exposure, so that productionefficiency can greatly be improved. The term “substantial 45° orsubstantial 90° from the 45° azimuth” means a range of an angle of 15°clockwise or counterclockwise from 45° or 90° with respect to the 45°azimuth, respectively. The 45° azimuth and the 90° azimuth refer to arange of ±0.5° from 45° and 90°, respectively.

The rotation mechanism 264 can also rotate the polarization axis 231 ofthe polarizer 230 from the 45° azimuth to substantial 45°. When thepolarization axis 231 is rotated by 45° from the 45° azimuth, therotated polarization axis 231 is parallel to the light irradiationdirection, so that the conventional photo alignment treatment in whichthe polarization axis of the polarizer is matched with the lightirradiation direction can also be performed.

The stage 250 is a stage on which the liquid crystal panel substrate 30is placed. The liquid crystal panel substrate 30 is fixed onto the stage250, and the liquid crystal panel substrate 30 is irradiated with thelight while the liquid crystal panel substrate 30 is moved, or theliquid crystal panel substrate 30 is irradiated with the light while thelight source is moved with respect to the liquid crystal panel substrate30. The photo alignment treatment can efficiently be performed byperforming the scanning exposure. The light irradiation direction withrespect to the liquid crystal panel substrate 30 is parallel to themovement direction of the liquid crystal panel substrate 30 or themovement direction of the light source 220, and an incident angle oflight incident on the substrate from the light source becomessubstantially the same in a light irradiation area of the light source,so that a pre-tilt angle (polar angle) provided to the liquid crystalmolecules also becomes substantially the same. For this reason, avariation in pre-tilt angle can be suppressed in the light irradiationarea to manufacture the liquid crystal panel having excellent displayquality. The photo alignment treatment device 200 may include a stagescanning mechanism that moves the stage 250 and/or a light sourcescanning mechanism that moves the light source 220. The term “parallel”includes a range in which the angle formed between the light irradiationdirection and the movement direction of the liquid crystal panelsubstrate 30 or the movement direction of the light source 220 is lessthan 5°.

The photo alignment treatment device 200 may include a light shieldingmember 240 in addition to the stage scanning mechanism and/or the lightsource scanning mechanism. The alignment division treatment can beperformed by performing the photo alignment treatment while a portionthat is not irradiated with the light is shielded by the light shieldingmember 240.

The use of the photo alignment treatment device can match the azimuth ofthe polarization axis of the polarizer with respect to the lightirradiation direction with the exposure direction on the surface of theliquid crystal panel substrate to set the oblique azimuth of the liquidcrystal molecules 41 in the liquid crystal panel 100 to the desiredangle.

An example of a photo alignment treatment step using the photo alignmenttreatment device 200 will be described below with reference to FIG. 11.FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an example of the photo alignmenttreatment step using the photo alignment treatment device. The photoalignment treatment step in FIG. 11 is an example in which, using thelight irradiation mechanism 280 including one polarizer 230, thepolarization axis 231 of the polarizer 230 is rotated by the rotationmechanism 264 to perform the photo alignment treatment. In FIG. 11, inorder to describe the azimuth of the liquid crystal panel substrate 30,a notch is illustrated in one corner. However, the actual liquid crystalpanel substrate 30 may not include the notch.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the movement direction 251 of the liquidcrystal panel substrate 30 is set to the first direction, the lightirradiation direction 252 is set to the second direction, and thefirst-time light irradiation is performed through the wavelengthselection filter 235 (not illustrated) and the polarizer 230 using thelight irradiation mechanism 280. The first direction and the seconddirection are parallel to each other. The region that is not irradiatedwith the light is shielded by the light shielding member 240. Thepolarization axis 231 of the polarizer 230 is set to the +45° azimuthclockwise with respect to the light irradiation direction 252, and thenthe rotation adjustment mechanism 260 adjusts the exposure direction 253on the surface of the liquid crystal panel substrate 30 to substantial45° with respect to the light irradiation direction 252 to perform thefirst-time light irradiation. Subsequently, the light shielding member240 is moved, the polarization axis 231 of the polarizer 230 is rotatedby 90° from the +45° azimuth by the rotation mechanism 264 and set tothe −45° azimuth counterclockwise with respect to the light irradiationdirection 252, and then the polarization axis 231 is adjusted by therotation adjustment mechanism 260 to perform the second-time lightirradiation. Subsequently, the substrate is rotated by 180°, the lightshielding member 240 is further moved, the polarizer 230 is rotated by90° from the −45° azimuth by the rotation mechanism 264 and set to the+45° azimuth, and then the polarization axis 231 is adjusted by therotation adjustment mechanism 260 to perform the third-time lightirradiation. Finally, the light shielding member 240 is moved, thepolarizer 230 is rotated by 90° from the +45° azimuth by the rotationmechanism 264 and set to the −45° azimuth, and then the polarizationaxis 231 is adjusted by the rotation adjustment mechanism 260 to performthe fourth-time light irradiation. In the liquid crystal panel substrate30 subjected to the light irradiation step, a pre-tilt azimuth 253varies in each of regions corresponding to the four alignment regionsformed in one pixel. The movement direction 251 and the lightirradiation direction 252 of the liquid crystal panel substrate 30 arethe same in all the first-time light irradiation to the fourth-timelight irradiation. In all the first-time light irradiation to thefourth-time light irradiation, the polarization axis 231 is adjusted bythe rotation adjustment mechanism 260 such that the exposure direction253 on the surface of the liquid crystal panel substrate 30 becomessubstantial 45° with respect to the light irradiation direction 252.

FIG. 12A is a view illustrating the photo alignment treatment performedon the TFT substrate (first substrate), FIG. 12B is a view illustratingthe photo alignment treatment performed on the CF substrate (secondsubstrate), and FIG. 12C is a view illustrating a state after bonding ofthe TFT substrate and the CF substrate that, are subject to the photoalignment treatment; As illustrated in FIG. 12A, the TFT substrate(first substrate) 30 is subjected to the photo alignment treatment bychanging the pre tilt azimuth 253 in each domain by the first-time lightirradiation to the fourth-time light irradiation. In the same manner asin the TFT substrate, as illustrated in FIG. 12B, the CF substrate(second substrate) 50 is also subjected to the photo alignment treatmentby changing a pre-tilt azimuth 254 in each domain by the first-timelight irradiation to the fourth-time light irradiation. As illustratedin FIG. 12C, the first domain 10 a, the second domain 10 b, the thirddomain 10 c, and the fourth domain 10d that are included in the liquidcrystal panel 100 of the embodiment are completed when the TFT substrate30 and the CF substrate 50 that are subjected to the photo alignmenttreatment are bonded together.

[Additional Remarks]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided aliquid crystal panel including, in the following order: a firstsubstrate including multiple pixel electrodes arranged into a matrixform, multiple gate lines, and a first alignment film; a liquid crystallayer containing liquid crystal molecules; and a second substrateincluding a common electrode and a second alignment film, wherein analignment vector is defined as being from a first substrate sidelong-axis end of each of the liquid crystal molecules, a start point, toa second substrate side long-axis end of the liquid crystal molecule, anend point, and the first alignment film and the second alignment filmhaving been subjected to an alignment treatment each include multipledomains with different alignment vectors in a column direction in eachdisplay unit region superimposed on one of the pixel electrodes, in atleast 30 pixels consecutive in a row direction, arrays of the domainsare identical, the gate lines extend through a region between rows ofthe display unit regions, the domains in the display unit region locatedin an nth row, where n is any integer of 1 or more, are arranged in anorder of a first domain in which a direction of the alignment vector isa first direction, a second domain in which a direction of the alignmentvector is a second direction, a third domain in which a direction of thealignment vector is a third direction, and a fourth domain in which adirection of the alignment vector is a fourth direction, each of thepixel electrodes is provided, in the first domain, the second domain,the third domain, and the fourth domain, with multiple fine slitsparallel to the alignment vectors of the respective domains, each of thepixel electrodes includes a region where the fine slits do not exist, atboth ends of the pixel electrode parallel to the row direction and atone or both of ends of the pixel electrode parallel to the columndirection, and a portion having a largest width of the region where thefine slits do not exist is included in one or both of the ends of thepixel electrode parallel to the row direction.

In the above aspect, in a plan view of the display unit region locatedin the nth row, the alignment vector of the first domain and thealignment vector of the second domain may have a relationship in whichthe end points are opposed to each other and the alignment vectors areorthogonal to each other, the alignment vector of the second domain andthe alignment vector of the third domain may have a relationship inwhich the start points are opposed to each other and the alignmentvectors are parallel to each other, and the alignment vector of thethird domain and the alignment vector of the fourth domain may have arelationship in which the end points are opposed to each other and thealignment vectors are orthogonal to each other.

The liquid crystal molecules may be aligned substantially vertically tothe first substrate and the second substrate when no voltage is appliedto the liquid crystal layer, and the liquid crystal molecules mayobliquely be aligned so as to be matched with the alignment vectors ofthe domains when voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer.

In the domains, an inter-substrate twist angle of the liquid crystalmolecules may be less than or equal to 45°.

Each of the first domain, the second domain, the third domain, and thefourth domain may have a substantially rectangular shape.

The domains in the display unit region located in the (n+1)th rowadjacent to the nth row with at least one of the gate lines interposedtherebetween may satisfy a relationship in which the first domain andthe fourth domain are located between the second domain and the thirddomain.

The domains in the display unit region located in the (n+1)th row may bearranged in the order of the third domain, the fourth domain, the firstdomain, and the second domain.

At least one of the first alignment film and the second alignment filmmay be a photo alignment film. Preferably both the first alignment filmand the second alignment film are the photo alignment film.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of manufacturing the liquid crystal panel, the method includingforming the fine slits by photolithography, the photolithographyincluding irradiating a photosensitive resin formed on a conductive filmwith light through a mask in which a pattern corresponding to the fineslits is formed and multiple lenses.

1. A liquid crystal panel comprising, in the following order: a firstsubstrate including multiple pixel electrodes arranged into a matrixform, multiple gate lines, and a first alignment film; a liquid crystallayer containing liquid crystal molecules; and a second substrateincluding a common electrode and a second alignment film, wherein analignment vector is defined as being from a first substrate sidelong-axis end of each of the liquid crystal molecules, a start point, toa second substrate side long-axis end of the liquid crystal molecule, anend point, and the first alignment film and the second alignment filmhaving been subjected to an alignment treatment each include multipledomains with different alignment vectors in a column direction in eachdisplay unit region superimposed on one of the pixel electrodes, in atleast 30 pixels consecutive in a row direction, arrays of the domainsare identical, the gate lines extend through a region between rows ofthe display unit regions, the domains in the display unit region locatedin an nth row, where n is any integer of 1 or more, are arranged in anorder of a first domain in which a direction of the alignment vector isa first direction, a second domain in which a direction of the alignmentvector is a second direction, a third domain in which a direction of thealignment vector is a third direction, and a fourth domain in which adirection of the alignment vector is a fourth direction, the domains inthe display unit region located in an (n+2)th row are arranged in a sameorder as the domains in the display unit region located in the nth row.2. The liquid crystal panel according claim 1, wherein the domains inthe display unit region located in the(n+2)th row are arranged indifferent order from the domains in the display unit region located in a(n+1)th row.
 3. The liquid crystal panel according claim 1, wherein thegate lines includes at least one gate line arranged between the displayun region located in the nth row aid the display unit region located ina (n+1)th row.
 4. The liquid crystal panel according claim 1, wherein ina plan view of the display unit region located in the nth row, thealignment vector of the first domain and the alignment vector of thesecond domain have a relationship in which the end points are opposed toeach other and the alignment vectors are orthogonal to each other, thealignment vector of the second domain and the alignment vector of thethird domain have a relationship in which the start points are opposedto each other and the alignment vectors are parallel to each other, andthe alignment vector of the third domain and the alignment vector of thefourth domain have a relationship in which the end points are opposed toeach other and the alignment vectors are orthogonal to each other. 5.The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, wherein the liquidcrystal molecules are aligned substantially vertically to the firstsubstrate and the second substrate when no voltage is applied to theliquid crystal layer, and the liquid crystal molecules are obliquelyaligned so as to be matched with the alignment vectors of the domainswhen voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer.
 6. The liquidcrystal panel according to claim 1, wherein in the domains, aninter-substrate twist angle of the liquid crystal molecules is less thanor equal to 45°.
 7. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1,wherein each of the first domain, the second domain, the third domain,and the fourth domain has a substantially rectangular shape.
 8. Theliquid crystal panel according to claim 1, wherein the domains in thedisplay unit region located in an(n+1)th row adjacent to the nth rowwith at least one of the gate lines interposed therebetween satisfy arelationship in which the first domain and the fourth domain are locatedbetween the second domain and the third domain.
 9. The liquid crystalpanel according to claim 8, wherein the domains in the display unitregion located in the(n+1)th row are arranged in an order of the thirddomain, the fourth domain, the first domain, and the second domain. 10.The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, wherein at least one ofthe first alignment film or the second alignment film is a photoalignment film.